THE NATURE OF THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM IN U.S. FATAL CRASHES
Alcohol is involved in more than falf of all U.S. traffic fatalities. In 1987, an estimated 23,630 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities continue to be the leading cause of death for young pople. Alcohol is involved in almost 80% of the fatal crashes that occur between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. on any night of the week. During the 1980s, alcohol involvement in fatal crashes declined. The porportion of divers involved in fatal crashes who were intoxicated at the time of the crash decreased 17% from 1982 to 1987. The reduction was especially significant for teenaged drivers, females, surviving drivers, teenaged pedestrians, older drivers, and drivers in daytime crashes. On the other hand, there was little or no change for drivers aged 25-34, motorcycle drivers, pedestrians aged 20 to 64, and drivers in late-night crashes. Reasons for the reduction in alcohol appear to be : (1) increased public awareness of the problem during the time period; (2) tougher laws and better enformcent of existing laws by state and local governments; (3) the raising of the dirinking age to 21 in most states; (4) other public and private programs to reduce drinking and driving; and (5) socioeconomic and demographic factors.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0471628212
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Authors:
- Fell, J C
- NASH, C E
- Publication Date: 1989
Media Info
- Features: References; Tables;
- Pagination: p. 335-343
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Serial:
- Health Education Quarterly
- Volume: 16
- Issue Number: 3
- Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated
- ISSN: 0195-8402
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Adolescents; Aged drivers; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Days; Demographics; Drivers; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Fatalities; Females; Legal drinking age; Motorcyclists; Night; Pedestrians; Publicity; Safety programs; Socioeconomic factors; Statistics; Teenage drivers; Traffic crashes; Traffic law enforcement; Traffic safety education
- Old TRIS Terms: Alcohol education programs; Female drivers
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Economics; Education and Training; Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00492107
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM